Release Date
April 1, 2001
Description
Duration c. 5’ Dedication: Margaret Mills and Mashka Tchernakova Instrumentation: cello and piano (commissioned for ABRSM “Spectrum” series) First performance: Margaret Mills, cello, Gavin Bryars, piano, Coplow Centre Billesdon, December 29th 2001
Gavin’s Notes:
With Miriam by the river (2001)
for cello and piano
This short piece was commissioned by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) for inclusion in its “Spectrum 4” volume of contemporary pieces for cello and piano. As a consequence both cello and piano parts are relatively easy to play. The title, and the slightly nostalgic mood, refers to my mother, Miriam, whose house overlooked the River Ouse in Yorkshire, and to those occasions when I would accompany her towards the end of her daily practice time.
The dedication is to my step-daughter (Mashka Tchernakova) and a friend in Billesdon (Margaret Mills), who meet regularly to play together in a similiar spirit and who first met when performing in the Millennium Music project (“Creation Hymn” 1999).